I am writing a paper on the influence of music as a tool of cultural identity in immigrant communities (pretentious, right?), but it has made me reflect on how music has changed my perspective of who I am and the people I come from.

First off, I am from Oklahoma, the land of Garth Brookes; Mr. “we’ll put a boot in your ass ’cause it’s the American way” Toby Keith; and (most importantly) Woody Guthrie. I was lucky enough to have parents whose tastes lead me away from the musical gem that is Toby Keith (if you can’t already tell, he is the bane of my existence) and towards the original working man’s music of Woody. As a pre-schooler I memorized the little known third verse of “This Land is your Land” that says:

As I was walkin’ – I saw a sign there
And that sign said – no tresspassin’
But on the other side …. it didn’t say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

“Every year, back comes Spring, with nasty little birds yapping their fool heads off and the ground all mucked up with plants.”

–Dorothy Parker

On days like today where the wind is blowing just right and all I want to do is sit on a swing and listen to music, I am disinclined to agree with the ever-optimistic Ms. Parker. She has a point about the “nasty little birds yapping their fool heads off,” but in my case they are gossiping freshman on the quad. Not to worry, just stick in your headphones, give the freshmen a glare and listen to this spring mix to optimize your time before all of the flowers bloom and the yellow clouds of pollen rain down.

Here’s the whole playlist on Grooveshark. Click the cut for Youtube videos for all the songs.